Island residents may be seeing new signs sprouting amongst the others alongside local roads and street corners. Those pink-and-blue signs advocating to “Keep Mercer Island Schools Strong” are from the ‘Yes’ campaign on Mercer Island, which is pushing community members to vote yes twice for levy renewals in the Feb. 9 special election.
The two propositions on the ballot from the Mercer Island School District are a Six-Year Capital Projects and Technology Levy and a One-Year Transportation Levy. Both are renewal levies.
The former will raise $38.4 million over six years to pay for building repairs and maintenance while also funding the district’s technology program, which isn’t supported by federal dollars. Property owners would pay an average of $0.55 per thousand dollars of assessed value each year for six years in property taxes. A resident with an assessed property value of $1 million would pay about $550 per year, or $46 per month.
The latter will allow the school district to replace aging school buses with propane-fueled vehicles in an effort to keep district buses safe and eco-friendly. It is a one-year levy that is run every four years. Property owners would pay an average of $0.07 per thousand dollars of assessed value for one year in property taxes. A resident with an assessed property value of $1 million would pay $70 per year, or $6 per month.
Paul Bergman, who serves as the levy renewal campaign co-chair, said the key point with the levy renewals is that there will be no change to the levy assessment that Island residents currently pay.
“This is an investment to ensure that the investments which have already been made continue to serve their purpose,” Bergman said. “It’s kind of like owning a car; you do certain maintenance to keep the car running and outlast its life span.”
Among the improvements the capital projects levy will fund include asphalt roofs at all the elementary schools, as well as roof replacement at the high school. The greenhouse at Crest Learning Center will be replaced, as will Islander Stadium’s track surface, turf and lights. The junior varsity grass field at the high school will be replaced with field turf, and the track at Islander Middle School will be resurfaced. Elementary play surfaces will be replaced, and the high school tennis courts will be renovated, adding court lighting.
Bergman said campaign members are in the process of scheduling public meetings and presentations to further inform residents about the levy measures and the work that still needs to be done.
“The overall theme of the campaign is that these levies, which Islanders have strongly supported in the past, enable us to keep our schools strong,” Bergman said. “This is an investment that continues us to keep our schools among the best in the state.”
King County Elections will mail ballots on Jan. 20. For more on the Yes campaign, visit YesMIschools.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FixOvercrowding/.
